Device and process for straightening hair



July 20 1926.

E. ARNOLE- mavxcs AND rnocnss vowsraamwranme HAIR Filea N09. '9. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 20,192 7 1,593,055

' E. ARNOLE DEVICE AND PROCESS "F05 STRAIGHTENING HAIR Filed Nov. 9. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 IIL'.

523557 if M71026 anal/Hugo Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES Enrrrr 'ARNOLE, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR STRAIGHTENING HAIR.

I Application filed November 9, 1925. Serial No. 67,995.

tures-in which are located the electrical heating units and means for insulating them from said hollow structures.

A still-further aim is to provide a hair straightening device which may be easily go and inex ensively manufactured, yet will he hi hly e cient and desirable.

ith'the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemente by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a disassembled perspective view of the hair straightening device and certain layers of sheet material which are used therewith.

. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the layers of sheet material engaged with a quantity of hair and in assembled relation with one member of the straightening device.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the straightening device operatively clamped upon a quantity of hair.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4- 1 of Fig. 3. t

Figure 5 is a disassembled perspective view showing one member of the straightening device.

Figure 6' is an assembled perspective view of the other member of the device.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the electric heaters.

I will refer to the two members of the straightening device as an upper member U and a'lower member L, for purposes of de scription. Provision is made for clamping these two members together to hold the hair to be straightened between them, and each of said members embodies electrical heating.

means,

The lower member L includes a sheet metal plate 8 having longitudinal edge portions which are bent upwardly to provide parallel flanges 9,'the metal at the upper extremities of these flanges being bent outwardly upon itself and extended downwardly as at 10, below the body portion of the-plate 8, providing two opposed, longitudinal, edge walls. The metal at the lower portions of these edge walls is bent inwardly to provide a pair of additional flanges 11 which are downwardly spaced from and disposed in parallel relation with the body portion of the plate 8. Contacting with the inner or upper sideof these flanges 11 and having its edges in abutting contact with 'the edge walls 10, is a sheet metal bottom plate 12. This bottom plate, the flanges 11 and the metal forming the edge walls 10 are preferably covered with plastic asbestos or other heat insulating means 13.

Disposed within the hollow structure, formed as above described, is an electric heater which preferably is of the construction shown in Figure 7, said heater consisting briefly of two strips of mica or equivalent material 14 secured upon a sheet 15 of mica or other insulating material and wound with flat resistance filaments 16 with which current-conducting wires 17 are connected. Insulating sheets 18, preferably formed of mica are interposed between the heater and ti metallic plates over and under the same.

These sheets, the insulating strips 14, the

sheet 15, the flanges 11, the plate 12, and the body portion of the plate 8, are formed with alined openings 19 near the corners of the member L, and bolts 20 pass upwardly through these openings, said bolts projecting above the member L for connecting thelatter with the upper member U, thumb nuts 21 being provided for said bolts.

The upper member U comprises a sheet metal bottom'plate 22 having longitudinal edge portions bent upwardly to provide parallel edge walls 23, the metal at the up per portions of these edge walls being bent horizontally inward to provide flanges 24 which-are spaced from and parallel with the body portion of said plate 22. A sheet metal top plate 25 contacts with the lower or inner surfaces of the flanges 24 and is spaced from the bodyportion of the late 22, and into the space between said ody portion and said plate 25, an electric heater and insulating means therefor, are inserted. This heater is of the same construction as the heater for the lower unit L, but in view of the fact that the heating means for the upper unit U is. disclosed in its entirety, whereas only a fragment of the heating means for the lower unit L has been shown and described, a further description will be given. Two strips of micaor other insulating material 26 are secured to an insulating sheet 27 and are wound with flat filaments 28 to which current conducting wires 29 are connected, the two filaments being electrically connected by a metallic strip or the like 30. The electric heater is inserted into the space within the upper member U, and insulating sheets 31 are disposed over and under this heater. These sheets, the sheet 27 the strips 26, the body portion of the plate 22, the flanges 24, and the top plate 25, are all formed with alined openings 32, to receive the upper ends of the bolts 20. The corner portions of the flanges 24 which are engaged by the nuts 21, are preferably exposed, but

. an insulating covering 33 of asbestos or the like is preferably provided over the remaining portions of said flanges and over the top plate 25.

The two members U and L preferably are provided with loops 34, stiffenin extensions 3 of their asbestos coverings, the wires 17 and 29 being surrounded by these extensions.

Two sheets of flannel or other absorbent material 35 and two sheets of cardboard 36 are provided for disposition between the members U and L and are formed with openings 37 to receive the bolts 20. These sheets 35 and 36 and the upper member U are received between the flanges 9 of the lower member L when the entire device is assembled, as disclosed in Fi 3 and 4.

I make use of the device a ove described, for carrying out part of a novel process for the stralghtenin of kinky hair. The hair is first treated with a hair softening medium which is preferably in liquid form and in most instances, comprises the following proportions of the ingredients given One-half dram of sodium bisulphate.

One dram of glycerin.

Ten drains of water.

Not only do I wet the hair with this solution, but the pads 35 are dipped into it and wrung out so that they are fairly moist. One of these pads 35 is applied to the lower section L of the hair straightening device, after first applying one of the cardboard sheets 36 to said member L. Then, a quantity of the hair to be straightened is placed upon said pad 35 and the other pad is placed on top of this quantity of'hair. Then, the upper cardboard sheet 36 and the upper member U of the straightening device are applied and the nuts 21 are loosely threaded upon the upper ends of the bolts 20. This having been done, two of the nuts 21 are the hair. Then, the hair is pulled toward the other end of the device to longitudinally stretch and straighten it, and while holding the hair in this stretched condition, the other nuts are tightened. Then, the electric current is turned on and through the instrumentality of the electric heaters, the entire device is effectively heated, so that the moisture within the pads 35 is converted into steam and eifectively steams the hair. This steaming operation is preferably carried on for about fifteen minutes, turning the electric current off and on at proper intervals, to prevent possible overheating of the device.

If the hair be of such length that its full length cannot be steamed and pressed at one operation, the nuts 21 may be loosened and the device slid downwardly upon the hair so as to treat another length thereof, and obviously, the hair upon the entire head must be treated in the manner described, either by successive operations of a single heating and straightening device or by the simultaneous use of a plurality of such devices.

Not only is the construction of the heating, pressing and straightening device simle and inexpensive, but it is efficient and desirable. Moreover, the improved process is such as to effectively straighten the most stubborn kinky hair, in such a manner that it will not return to its former shape, under the action of either heat or liquid. Hence, the hair may be shampooed whenever desired without danger of it losing its straight form, bathing may be indulged in with safety and no fear of perspiration need be had, as regards action upon the hair.

As excellent results have been obtained from the details disclosed, they are preferably followed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed,variations may be made.

I claim 1. A hair straightening device comprising two' flat plate-like members between which to clamp the hair, said members each embodying an electric heater and clamping means arranged at the opposite ends of sai members whereby one end of the members may be clamped together without materially affecting the other end for tightly holding the hair at this the clamped end while being pulled toward the opposite end and straightened before the said opposite, ends of the members are clamped together.

2. A hair straightening device comprisin two fl'at plate-like members between whic to clamp the hair, said members each embodying an electric heater, one of said members having its opposite longitudinal edges bent upwardly to provide parallel edge walls projecting from the body of the memtiightened to tightly clamp the free ends of ber between which the other member is receivable and fastenerspassing through said members for clam ing the same together.

3. In a hair straightening device, a heating and clamping unit comprisin portions bent to provide ara e1 edge wa ls projecting from the b0 y portion of said plate, theou'ter portions ofsaid ed e walls being bent inwardly toward each 0t er providing flanges spaced from and parallel with said body portion of the plate, a sec- 0nd plate of sheet material enga ing the inner surfaces of said flanges, an electric heatin means held between and insulated from tietwo plates.

4. In a hair straightening'device, a heating and clamping unit comprising a plate of sheet material having longitudinal edge portions bent to provide arallel edge walls projecting from the y portion of said late, the outer portions of said ed e walls ing inwardly benttoward each ot er providing flanges spacedfrom and parallel with said body portion of the plate, a second plate of sheet material engagin the inner surfaces of said. flanges, electric eatin means held between thetwo a plate. of sheet material having lon 'tudinal ed e sides of said additional lates, inting sheets between said heating means 1 and said plates, and fasteners passing through the body portion and flan es of the first named plate, and through t e intervening plate and insulating sheets to secure these arts; in assembled relation.

5. structure. as specified in claim 4; said fasteners being in the form of bolts which project from one side of the unit for connecting it with another unit.

6. In a hair straightening device; a heating and clamping unit comprisin a plate of sheet material having longitudinal edge portions bent laterally to form parallel anges projecting from one side of the body portion of said plate, said flangesbeing outwardly folded upon themselves on. longitudinal lines and projecting from the other side of said body portion to provide parallel ed e walls, the free edge ortions of these wa ls being bent inward ly toward each other to form additional flanges, a second plate of sheet material erhgaging the inner anges, and electric heating means held between and insulated from the two plates.

In testimony whereof I'have hereunto affixed my signature.

- EDITH ARNOLE. 

